Heading on a vacation to Hilton Head Island this winter? Take your four-legged friend with you! At Palmetto Dunes, all family members are welcome. After all, what’s a vacation without your very best friend?

To get the most out of your stay at Palmetto Dunes, we’ve compiled a few pet-friendly pointers to help you and your furry friend have the vacation of a lifetime!

Vacation Preparation:

1. Double check your pet’s paperwork.

Before you leave, take a look through all of your pet’s paperwork and make sure they have the appropriate veterinary travel documents.

2. Do a medical check.

Ensure all required injections are current. If your pet is on any medications, be sure to visit the vet prior to your trip so that any necessary supplies are in order.

3. Make a reservation.

Book a Palmetto Dunes property fit for you and Fido. From one-bedroom condos to spacious villas, the perfect spot for pets up to 40 pounds are available seasonally.

4. Call ahead.

Be prepared! We’re here to help with any questions you have or any special needs your pet may require, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch prior to your visit at 866-650-4130.

Traveling Tips:

1. Use a crate.

Whether you’re driving or flying, it’s best to use a crate for safe transport.To help your pet adjust to their crate, let them enter it on their own, and consider tossing in their favorite treat and/or toy.

2. Review policies.

If you’re traveling by air, be sure to review the airline’s pet policies, as they’ll likely have specific rules and protocols to get your pet ready.

3. Plan mealtimes.

Some pups can be sensitive to motion, so help make things a little easier on their stomach by serving their meal well before transit (4-6 hours is ideal).

4. Schedule in activity.

Let your furry friend run or take them for a long walk prior to crate time – a tired dog is much more likely to remain calm during transit.

Destination Advice:

1. Familiarize yourself with the surroundings.

Identify parks, paths, and other locations to get some exercise with your dog. Your front desk staff can point you in the direction of Hilton Head Beaches, which are dog friendly in the mornings and evenings, and a must for your vacation to-do list.

2. Explore the new environment.

When you arrive, be sure to take your pup out for a walk. It’s the perfect way to explore, and it helps you both relax and adjust to your new surroundings.

3. Keep your schedule.

Pets thrive on healthy routines so do your best to keep to your regular walking and meal times throughout your trip.

4. Create a comfortable space.

Make your pet at home with familiar items such as their bedding or favorite toy. This will instantly help them to feel more secure and relaxed.

There are few experiences as authentically Lowcountry as the Oyster Roast. Cooking outdoors, good friends, fresh local seafood, the Oyster Roast is our way of ushering in the fall and winter, and of having the kind of casual good time one can only enjoy on Hilton Head Island.

If you’d like to bring some Lowcountry flair to your next gathering, host your own oyster roast! Here’s how:

Get some fresh oysters. On Hilton Head Island, and throughout the Lowcountry, clusters of oysters are typically used for oyster roasts. Around here, the oysters are often so fresh they’re still covered in mud! However, individual oysters are more likely what you'll be able to find at home. Plan for 10-12 oysters per person.

Get fired up. Open fire pits may be the tradition for our oyster roasts, but your backyard grill will do just fine. Place a large iron plate or piece of sheet metal on top of your grill and crank up the heat. Test your temperature by sprinkling a few drops of water onto your piece of metal—if it sizzles upon contact you’ll know it’s time to…

Get cooking! Lay your oysters onto your iron plate and cover with a thoroughly damp piece of burlap. It’s best to avoid any synthetic fibers, so make sure your burlap is the real deal. For added flavor, douse your burlap with some local beer.

Get steamy. As soon as your damp burlap hits the heat, it should start to steam. If, as you cook the burlap starts to dry and the steam starts to die down, dump a liberal amount of ice on top of your burlap oyster pile. As it melts, it will create steam to help the oysters cook. The oysters are essentially cooking in their own juices, which is what makes them so incredibly delicious! The steam from the burlap and ice helps this process along.

Get shucking. After 8-10 minutes your oyster shells should have opened slightly, meaning they’re ready to eat! Use a shovel to take them off the grill and Let them cool for a couple of minutes before carefully shucking the oysters.

Now you’re ready to eat! Serve your oysters alongside saltine crackers, with cocktail sauce or fresh lemon juice, or, enjoy their succulent, briny flavor on its own. A Lowcountry oyster roast can last all night long, with pile after pile of delicious, steamed oysters being loaded on and off the grill.

Oyster roasts are a fantastic excuse to get a group of people together to enjoy simple Lowcountry cooking, fresh seafood, and good company. There’s no such thing as “too many people” at an oyster roast on Hilton Head Island. Don’t believe us? Come on down to The Dunes House on Saturday, November 26 for our annual Dunes House Oyster Roast! Live music, beer and menu specials, and of course, oysters, oysters and more oysters! Between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, call 843-686-9143.

Given our love of golf, all of us at Palmetto Dunes are excited about this week’s Ryder Cup matches at Minnesota’s Hazeltine National Golf Club. With the Ryder Cup in mind, we turned to our longtime Director of Instruction, Doug Weaver, a former PGA Tour player, to pick his brain about some keys to successful match-play competition. Here are a dozen of Doug’s suggestions for how to succeed in match-play golf:

1. Expect the best

Rehearse with visualization days before the round hitting every fairway green and making every putt. This is more important than beating balls on the range. The visualization will engage every part of your brain, which gives instruction to your muscles. While visualizing each individual shot, take time to feel the physical sensations. These feelings are equal to pictures. We all agree a picture is worth a thousand words. Rehearse being behind and then coming back to win. In your imagination act like steady Nick Faldo coming from four behind to beat overly aggressive Greg Norman.

2. Prepare for the worst

Fred Funk shared that he expects to win by hitting every fairway and green and making every putt. However, he prepares by practicing his short game from all the worse case positions.

3. Ride your emotions

If you feel success, go for it by playing to your strengths and avoiding your weakness. If you play a fade then on every dogleg right for a right-handed player, go for it. However on a dogleg left play to the corner and accept the longer distance on your approach shot. If the pin is on the right, go for it. If he pin is on the left go for the center.

4. Confront gamesmanship

Paul Azinger and Seve Ballesteros both are fierce competitors. Paul confronted Seve for clearing his throat in Chip Beck’s backswing. It did not happen again. Be social with your caddy or invite a friend to observe and be social with them. Talking with your opponent may cause you to lose your game face.

5. In one ear and out the other

Opponents may make statements that seem friendly and complimentary. However these statements can be intended to change your focus. Beware of, “I love your backswing,” which may be intended to get you thinking about your swing and not playing the game. Do not listen to comments about course conditions like wind or green firmness: “The greens are slow” or “the sand is firm.” Be objective, gather your own information and make your own decisions.

6. Dance with the one you brought

Accept the game you have today. Be patient waiting for the momentum to turn your way. In one famous Ryder Cup moment, Justin Leonard missed 13 fairways and 13 greens but got up and down 13 times to stay in the match. The 14th green he hit and made par. The 15th green he hit and birdied to go on to victory.

7. Ask for change

My playing opponent jingled his change occasionally. I asked “Do you have change for two dollars?” He said “No.” I said, “Here are two dollars for whatever you have.” No more jingling.

8. Know where your handicap strokes come

Study the card knowing the handicapping, the opponent may not pay attention and forget where the strokes are. Golf is a numbers game. Keep the score.

9. Know when to “hold 'em” and when to “fold 'em”

On difficult holes it may be wise to play to your strengths understanding your opponent’s weakness. Lay up or play to the center when the risk reward is too high. Take the tie or victory but do not give it away because your ego wants to go.

10. Understand your personality

A student’s personality plays a significant role in how I coach them to plan and play in match play. My training with MentalGolfWorkshop.com helps me design a strategy to overcoming the opponent’s playing style and personality characteristics. We teach this class at Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy and most students confess they have people they love to play with and people they dread playing with. Similarly, we all have holes we play well and holes we regularly explode on. After this class you learn how to score lower than your comfort zone. You will not be influenced by your opponent, but influence the opponent. The late, great Arnold Palmer’s and Tiger’s charisma won many matches for them. Fred Funk saw this and intentionally befriended Tiger and therefore learned to play his best with the No. 1 player in the world.

11. 6-6-6

Most courses are set up daily with six easy holes, six medium holes and six difficult holes. Know where they are by asking for a pin placement sheet. Also, by driving the course or neighborhood, looking at the tee markers and the pins. The caddies do it. Why not you?

12. Play a Par 4 as a Par 5

The 18th hole of the Fazio is the No. 2 handicap hole. Sometimes play it as a par 5 and never make a six. When players go for this green in two shots, they easily can make a six. This is the same at No. 12 on the Hills Course, the No. 2 handicap hole, as well as No. 14 on the Jones Course.

There’s something very special about the Lowcountry lifestyle that defines coastal South Carolina. Lowcountry is more than a geographical region, it’s a unique way of living with a culture and cuisine all its own. It’s part of what makes a vacation at Palmetto Dunes so special, and it’s worth cultivating all year long!

Now that your summer vacation on Hilton Head Island has come to a close, and while you start planning your return trip to Palmetto Dunes, embrace our Lowcountry lifestyle with these easy tips.

Enjoy the small things in life.

Embracing the Lowcountry lifestyle is all about taking the time to enjoy the small things in life. It’s easy to stop and enjoy a stunning Hilton Head Island sunset or wake up early for a sunrise stroll on our white sand beaches while you’re in “vacation mode” at Palmetto Dunes, however, our busy lives and hectic schedules often push us through the day without so much as a pause.

Similarly, there’s nothing more pleasant for a Lowcountry local than a few quiet minutes sitting on a front porch. In fact, some residents would tell you it’s best to spend an afternoon just relaxing and enjoying the slow pace of life we have here on Hilton Head Island.

Cultivate the appreciation you feel while in the Lowcountry. Wake up a few minutes earlier to look out at the sky and take a deep breath. Enjoy the simple pleasure of that first sip of coffee in the morning. Take a walk after dinner and leave your cellphone at home. It just takes a few minutes’ pause to enjoy life’s small moments and feel as relaxed and laid back as a warm southern summer breeze.

We think you’ll agree that the natural surroundings of Hilton Head Island are truly spectacular. Hilton Head Outfitters makes it easy to bike along the island’s white, sandy beaches and oak tree-lined streets, or paddle along the Palmetto Dunes lagoon system and other coastal inlets and estuaries. But just because you’re not enjoying all of the outdoor activities Palmetto Dunes has to offer doesn’t mean you can’t get out and enjoy nature in your neighborhood. Find a local park to visit on the weekend, or even take the time to enjoy the shade from a tree-lined boulevard in your town.

If you really want to surround yourself with the natural scenery of the Lowcountry, place a photo or piece of local art on your wall, so an escape to Hilton Head Island is a mere glance away. There are some incredible art galleries and artisans’ shops at Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, so be sure to stop in on your next Palmetto Dunes vacation to pick a Hilton Head view to call your own.

Serve up some Lowcountry cuisine.

*Shrimp via @dath_annabeth

South Carolina Lowcountry has a unique cuisine with influences from North Africa, the Caribbean, and traditional Southern and Native American dishes. Inspired by the area’s agricultural history and coastal landscape, rice and seafood are staples found often in Lowcountry dishes.

There are plenty of ways to sample Lowcountry flavors at Palmetto Dunes. Try traditional shrimp’n grits or good old-fashioned Southern Barbecue at Big Jim’s, or head to Alexander’s Restaurant for Lowcountry crab cakes. End a day of exploring, shopping, and entertainment at Shelter Cove Harbour with gumbo and fresh oysters at Scott’s Fish Market or a decadent seafood entrée at Ela’s Blu Water Grille.

We know you'll be yearning for Hilton Head Island's Lowcountry fare, so why not embrace the Lowcountry lifestyle by indulging in some fresh seafood every now and again, or adding ‘peas and rice’ as a side dish at your next meal? A key ingredient of Lowcountry cooking is a casual approach. It's all about good ingredients and sharing a meal with good friends.

Get inspired by Lowcountry Architecture.

You may have noticed while biking around Hilton Head Island, that many of the houses have an architectural style all their own. This Lowcountry style of architecture dates back to the 1700s, and its features are rooted in practicality. Many homes are made of timber and constructed on pillars to keep the main floor away from rising tides, storm surges, and swampy land. Broad roofs and large, covered front porches are another signature of this style. Some of our rental vacation homes are built this way, and many feature large windows, another Lowcountry architectural signature that lets beautiful views and ocean breezes in, and warm air out.

While constructing a new porch may be unrealistic, simple touches of wood, sea-inspired accents, and a classic rocking chair by the window are easy ways to inject a bit of Lowcountry into your home décor.

Transport yourself.

Social media makes it easier than ever to stay connected to the Lowcountry vibes of Palmetto Dunes. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram to see glimpses of life on Hilton Head Island all throughout the year, right in the palm of your hand! Sign up for emails from us, and check our blog to keep tabs on what’s happening at the resort. You can even catch a glimpse of current weather conditions and Lowcountry views on our webcams!

*Photo via Alex R.

The laidback atmosphere of the Lowcountry lifestyle is a huge part of life on Hilton Head Island and embracing this lifestyle is a sure fire way to bring some relaxing vacation vibes into your everyday life. Once you've embraced the Lowcountry lifestyle, you'll be more than ready for your next vacation to Palmetto Dunes.

What an incredible summer it’s been at Palmetto Dunes. From fantastic family-friendly events and outdoor adventures to delicious meals and lazy beach days, there really is no better place to spend your summer than Hilton Head Island.

One thing is for sure: Hilton Head Island is a beautiful place to vacation. A number of your entries really showcased the beautiful views that are everywhere at Palmetto Dunes! Whether photographing our white sand beaches, golf courses, or lagoon, you captured our stunning surroundings expertly!

Instagrammer @1madmom shared her beach and pool view with her entry during our “Cheers to Summer” week.

This “Totes y’all” entry from @cate_fitz shows off her cute beach tote and the beautiful waves of the beach at Palmetto Dunes.

We love this amazing rainbow photo by @chrishart_liveloveclick, showing off the views from the tee, and this lagoon pic shared by @karengannon on our “Fourth of July Fun” week.

If you’ve ever stayed at Palmetto Dunes, you know how breathtaking our sunsets can be. The photos you shared for our “Summer Sunsets” theme blew us away and we love how many of them captured the beauty of our beachfront, such as these photos shared by @glendamethvin, @mrdomie, and @palmettotides.

Family Memories

Palmetto Dunes is the perfect place for a family vacation. Our home and villa rentalsprovide enough space for everyone and are the perfect home base for a summer getaway to Hilton Head Island. All summer long our golf and tennis experts held clinics and lessons for family members of all ages and levels. Our friends at Hilton Head Outfitters provided bikes, canoes, kayaks, surfboards, and more, so you and your family could get outdoors and enjoy Hilton Head Island’s incredible natural surroundings.

There’s nothing like frolicking in the waves at Palmetto Dunes’ beach. We love this fun photo shared by @taffetatulips.

Palmetto Dunes welcomes all family members! @maxwellalexanderl shared this beautiful family portrait, including “fur babies.”

Spending time together is truly what makes a family vacation special, and there are so many ways to do so at Palmetto Dunes! Guest @rayboy55 shared this photo of his family enjoying a sweet treat, and it looks like @hollypaddles and her family had a great time heading out for a boat tour.

Memorable meals

There’s nothing like a delicious meal to bring people together, and the food at Palmetto Dunes can’t be beat! From relaxed views at The Dunes House, to decadent desserts, to beach picnics, y’all proved that good eats are an important part of a great vacation!

Everybody loves the food and drinks at The Dunes House! We think @bburgwyn and @amy_margaret01 perfectly captured this beachfront hotspot. Then there were food photos that had our mouths watering, like these shared by user @tdubhokie.

What is your favorite memory from your summer stay at Palmetto Dunes? Tell us in the comments! If all of these photos have you wishing you were back on Hilton Head Island, start planning a return trip! Our vacation packages offer something for everyone, from golf addicts to Pokémon Go players. For even more vacation inspiration, follow us on Instagram to see stunning Palmetto Dunes photos all year long!

Everybody knows that one of the best ways to celebrate summer is with a round of refreshing summer cocktails with friends. The Dunes House's laid-back, beachfront atmosphere is the perfect place to "sip back" and relax with a beautiful view, delicious food, and a smashing drink!

All summer long at The Dunes House we’ve been serving up casual beachside fare, like our famous fish tacos, family-friendly classics including burgers and hot dogs fresh from the grill, and of course, our signature frozen drinks.

Keep the summer vibes of Palmetto Dunes alive well into fall by whipping up a batch of one of The Dunes House's most popular summer drinks – The Tiger Paw. With flavors of peach, pineapple, and strawberry, all you'll have to do is take a sip, close your eyes and transport yourself back to the beaches on Hilton Head Island.

Recipe: (makes 1 14 ounce drink)

1.5 ounce peach vodka

2 ounces mango puree

2 ounces strawberry puree

1 cup ice

Mix in a blender and serve garnished with an orange slice and a cherry.

Happy August everyone! It’s been an incredible summer here on Hilton Head Island, and one of our favorite parts has been enjoying all of the amazing photos y’all have shared for our #PDSummer Instagram challenge!

We’ve issued 12 Instagram challenges so far, and you have been up to the task! We thought we’d share some of our favorite entries: breathtaking photos, creative snaps and good old-fashioned fun, all with a dose of southern sunshine. Your Instagram photos have perfectly captured summer at Palmetto Dunes.

Our most popular theme so far has been Stunning Sunrises. If you’ve been to Hilton Head Island before, you know that the sunrises on the beach are worth waking up for, and we think these images prove it.

Hilton Head Island is famous for its spectacular beaches, and whether you’re enjoying a good book, picnicking in the sun or feeling the sand between your toes, you know how to take advantage of the beautiful beaches at Palmetto Dunes.

Some have you have gotten quite creative with your entries, and we love it. Check out these #PDSummer pics featuring a one-of-a-kind travel companion, and a sandcastle that’s one for the books!

There are so many things to do when you're on vacation at Palmetto Dunes! Hilton Head Outfitters offers beach chairs, bikes, canoes and more, for exploring all of Hilton Head Island, from our bike trails to beach paths to remarkable lagoon system.

Of course, there are also our tennis and golf facilities – each a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon! Here are some of our favorite submissions from people enjoying all of Palmetto Dunes’ summer activities.

Summer isn’t over yet, and we’ve got more fun themes for our Instagram Challenge. Next up is Cheers To Summer, so get ready to show us your favorite summer drinks. Check out the rest of our #PDSummer themes:

There is nothing finer than a lowcountry wedding at Palmetto Dunes Resort. Shelley and Kevin chose Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island because it had everything they wanted for their destination wedding.

You wouldn't buy a suit or a dress without first trying them on to make sure they fit. In the same vein, it doesn't make any sense to buy a new set of golf clubs without making sure that they have been properly customized for your own, individual fittings.

So if you are planning to plunk down the cash for a set of clubs… and you have wisely decided to employ someone to ensure the ideal customization for you… doesn't it also make sense to employ the finest club fitter available?

Palmetto Dunes Resort and the Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy want the best of the best for its students, which is why the resort now offers the expertise of Swing Fit, headed by Chris Wycoff, who has been named one of Golf Digest magazine’s “Top 100 Club Fitters.”

The Golf Digest recognition as one of the best fitters in the United States shows Wycoff’s quality and passion for club fitting and club building. Wycoff understands that a properly fitted golf club allows four important things:

Positive swing changes

Increased shot consistency

Better ball flight

Repeatable distance gains

That’s why the Swing Fit process at the Palmetto Dunes’ Robert Trent Jones Course is significantly more in depth than a typical ‘get your specs’ fitting at retail, club or demo day. “We take the time to find the club set up that looks right, feels good and delivers repeatable improvements in distance, accuracy and consistency,” said Wycoff, who became a Mizuno Top 100 fitter in 2014. “Our passion is helping people play better and more enjoyable golf.”

Swing Fit’s approach includes more than 20,000 total club and shaft combinations, including Titleist, Cobra, Callaway, TaylorMade, Nike, Ping, Mizuno, Edel, Fujikura, Matrix, Aerotec Steelfiber, Nipon, KBS, TrueTemper, Accra, Paderson and others — using a data-driven process to improve performance by identifying the ideal combination of club, shaft and build specifications for each golfer.

Another important feature of the new service at Palmetto Dunes: With on-site inventory and a team of skilled builders, many clubs can be delivered within 48 hours. “When you make the decision to get fitted for a new set of golf clubs, you don’t want to wait weeks before you get to hit them,” said Wycoff. “We have invested in the inventory and on-site build capabilities to deliver custom fit clubs quickly.”

For more information about the new club fitting, building and repair services at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort go here or call (855) 255-8214.

Golf: leisurely and precise, a game for the patient, and around here, played next to spectacular ocean bluffs. Biking through the three Palmetto Dunes courses might seem a little strange, but golf bikes offer a number of advantages over a cart—not least of all that they’re pretty fun to zoom around on.

But there are some less obvious benefits to golf bikes as well. Let’s start with one of the more obvious ones:

1. It’s healthier. We’re not talking about some major workout here, and the Palmetto courses are fairly flat. That lets you concentrate on the golf while burning some calories, and we all know every little bit counts. After a week spent in an office, it makes sense to get up and move around when you travel. Take care of golf and a workout at once and free up some time for dinner or an evening relaxing on the beach.

2. Golf bikes give better access. They can be driven on the greens and the wide wheels mean you can ride easily on grass. There’s no need to get stuck on a busy path and there’s no more trudging after that drive. Just hop on the bike and cruise.

3. These are easy-to-use bikes, designed for golf. Unlike a mountain bike with loads of gears, these bikes are straightforward. The frame is built low to make stepping on and off simple, which also makes acceleration easier. The wide wheels provide good traction and stability and it even carries your clubs on the back.

4. All that peddling means the golf bike is a lot friendlier for our pristine environment here at Palmetto Dunes. Even hybrid golf carts are drawing electricity—a bike gets you around the course (and the rest of Hilton Head Island) without exhaust fumes, noise, or damage to animal habitats. That means breathing the best ocean air while you play.

With paths like this one, just imagine a leisurely cruise down this hill.

5. Did we mention it’s fun? Golf may be a gentleman’s game but there’s no reason not to let your inner child out while on vacation. There’s a thrill to riding a bike and even leisurely exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel happy. And feeling good is the whole point of coming to Palmetto Dunes.

The Palmetto Dunes courses were the first on the East Coast to get the Golf Bikes after the prototype was showcased on the PGA Tour in 2010. The bikes have only been in wide circulation for about a year.

Call to reserve a golf bike when booking a tee time at any Palmetto Dunes golf course. The cost is the same as a golf cart. For more information on Palmetto Dunes resorts and golf packages call 877-567-6513.